O.A.R. • Gavin DeGraw • Lisa Loeb • August 21, 2026 • Sandy Amphitheater
Sandy Amphitheater was the perfect setting for an evening built around great songs, familiar voices, and the kind of laid-back energy that makes a summer concert feel special. O.A.R. headlined the night, with Gavin DeGraw and Lisa Loeb helping make the evening a well-rounded lineup that moved comfortably between pop, rock, folk, and singer-songwriter styles.
Lisa Loeb
The night began with Lisa Loeb. Her unmistakable voice immediately gave the evening a nostalgic and intimate feel. Loeb has a way of making a large outdoor venue feel surprisingly personal. Her performance set a relaxed tone for the opening portion of the show. This allowed the audience to settle in and enjoy the music before the energy began to build.
Her biggest songs remain instantly recognizable. As I’m sure you could imagine, “Stay” was the big hit and crowd favorite of her set. But my personal favorite is another hit off of Loeb’s album Tails, “Do You Sleep?” The performance was a trip down memory lane for sure. Her set had a warmth and honesty that highlighted why her music has remained relevant decades after many of her best-known songs first found an audience. She connected with the crowd without needing an oversized production, letting the songs and her personality do most of the work. My only complaint is that Loeb was on too early. She should be on a tour where she’s either the opener right before the headliner or headlining her own shows in smaller venues. She’s too good to miss.
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin DeGraw followed and changed the energy of the evening. DeGraw has the kind of stage presence that feels completely natural, and he quickly had the Sandy Amphitheater crowd engaged. His combination of piano-driven pop, rock, and soulful vocals gave the middle portion of the night a significant boost.
DeGraw’s voice continues to be one of his biggest strengths. Whether delivering one of his more emotional songs or leaning into the upbeat material, he brought plenty of personality to the performance. There was a genuine enthusiasm in the way he approached the stage, and the audience responded accordingly.
Of course, songs like “I Don’t Want to Be” and “Chariot” gave longtime fans plenty to sing along with, while his more recognizable hits created some of the biggest audience reactions of his set. DeGraw also demonstrated why his songs have worked so well in a live setting. The recordings may be polished, but onstage they have room to breathe and take on a little more attitude.
O.A.R.
For more than two decades, O.A.R. has built a reputation around music that feels equally comfortable in a packed concert venue or around a backyard gathering with friends. Their Sandy Amphitheater performance captured that spirit perfectly.
The band’s sound is difficult to put into a single category. There are elements of rock, reggae, folk, pop, and jam music woven throughout their songs, but the result never feels forced. Instead, O.A.R. has developed a sound that is immediately identifiable and particularly effective in a live environment.
One of the highlights of seeing O.A.R. live is watching the band stretch out. Songs that fans know from the albums can become bigger and more energetic onstage, giving longtime listeners something new to enjoy while still delivering the moments they came to hear.
The crowd was especially responsive when the band launched into familiar favorites. “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker” remains a natural live showcase, giving the audience an opportunity to become part of the performance. The energy continued through songs such as “Shattered,” “This Town,” and “Peace,” each one bringing its own personality to the set.
O.A.R. also understands the importance of pacing a concert. The set wasn’t simply one high-energy song after another. There were quieter moments that allowed the audience to take a breath before the band kicked things back into gear. That contrast helped keep the performance engaging from beginning to end.
The Sandy Amphitheater setting added another layer to the night. With the outdoor atmosphere, a summer crowd, and three artists who each brought something different to the lineup, the concert felt less like a traditional stop on a tour and more like a gathering of fans who came to spend an evening with good music.
Lisa Loeb provided the nostalgic beginning, Gavin DeGraw brought the pop-rock energy in the middle, and O.A.R. closed the night with the free-flowing, crowd-friendly sound that has made them a longtime favorite on the live circuit. It was fun to see both Loeb and DeGraw return to join O.A.R. during their set.
It was a lineup that worked because the artists were different enough to keep the evening interesting while still fitting together naturally. By the time O.A.R. finished, Sandy Amphitheater had experienced a little bit of everything — intimate singer-songwriter moments, powerful pop-rock performances, and an energetic headlining set that encouraged the audience to sing, dance, and simply enjoy being there.
For a summer night at Sandy Amphitheater, that’s a pretty good combination.
